Initially, the internet connection from the Starlink satellite operated by SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, was intended to help Ukrainians. But later, the Ukrainian military also used it as a powerful weapon against Russia.
At the request of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, Elon Musk activated Starlink internet for Ukraine and sent the receiving device. "Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals delivered," Elon wrote on Twitter.
Quoted from Deutsche Welle, British media reports that the Ukrainian military is currently very successful in using connections from Starlink to support precise drone strikes against Russian tanks or convoys.
Starlink's internet beams are especially helpful in areas of Ukraine that are no longer connected due to the Russian attack. Moreover, the connection is relatively stable, allowing drone pilots to carry out reconnaissance or coordination and shoot targets precisely.
"We use the Starlink device and connect the drone to our team. If we use a drone at night with thermal vision, it has to connect with Starlink on the artillery team and create target acquisition," said one of the drone pilots.
The Ukrainian drone pilot team ran about 300 information gathering times during the day to establish attack targets. The attack was then carried out at night where the drones were very difficult to see.
The Starlink internet connection is also widely used by Ukrainian citizens. It is reported that about 100 thousand citizens are connected to cyberspace through Starlink and help them communicate about what is happening in the war with Russia.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, also uses the Internet Starlink to address his people or when speaking to parliaments of various countries.
Russia is not standing still, where there are fears that Starlink devices will be targeted. "Turn on Starlink only when needed and place the antenna as far away from residents as possible," says Elon Musk.
There are also indications that Russia has installed a jammer device to block Starlink's internet connection. But according to Elon Musk, software updates will be able to escape the jammer.